Siphon



T. J. SIMPSON Dec. 3, 1935.

SIPHON Filed May 14, 1934 INVENTOR Theodore J. Simpson ATTORNEY PatentedDec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIPHON Theodore J. Simpson, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 14, 1934,Serial No. 725,579 2 Claims. (01. 137-20) This invention concernssiphons and more par- I andinwhich, particularly when the siphon isusedI for the separation of fermentable or perishable fluids such'as creamfrom milk, dried cream accumulates and. sours and when the siphon isnext used this sour fluid starts the souring of fresh supplies of creamand milk in which the siphon is used. Other siphons consist of aplurality of parts, some of which become lost in use or on beingimproperly assembled cause the irregular operation of the siphon;require different siphons when used in a quart milk bottle from thatused in a pint milk bottle; and have other objectionable properties andlimitations that the present siphon is designed to overcome.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary siphon ofpreferably. inseparable construction for general use in separatingfluids. Another object is to provide a siphon with drain surfaces thatare substantially all more or less parallel with the longitudinaldirection of the particular part of the siphon where such surfaces occurto provide a maximum tendency to drain freely and over which a stream ofcleansing solution may have a straight flow so that the siphon may becompletely and thoroughly drained and cleaned out and' that has no fluidretaining pockets in which a fermentable fluid may become entrappedand-become sour.

Another object is to-provide a siphon of such construction that it hasno parts that can be easily separated or that may become lost in use orthat may fail to operate properly from faulty assembly. 1

Another object is to provide a cream separating siphon that may be usedinterchangeably in either quart or pint milk bottles.

A further object is to provide a siphon that is of simple andinexpensive construction, that is automatic and dependable in operationand that is relatively simple of manufacture.

Another object is to provide a siphon that isadjustable for differentlevels of fluid separation.

understood by those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates suitable embodiments ofthe present invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, 5 of the preferredform of the siphon as adapted for use in milk bottles;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the siphon shown in Fig. 1 on a smallscale and as used in a quart milk bottle;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the siphon shown in Fig. 1 on a smallscale and as used in a pint milk bottle;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of amodified form of restricted oriflce in the lower end of the intake legof the siphon shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of amodified form of intake orifice in the intake leg of the siphon shown inFig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of amodified form of intake orifice in the intake leg of the siphon with asliding collar for adjusting the level of the liquid to be siphoned ofl.

The preferred form of siphon, that is shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive ofthe accompanying drawing as adapted for use with milk bottles, comprisesan intake leg I and a discharge leg 2 that are joined together toprovidea continuous internal channel by the gooseneck 3.

Restricted orifices 4 are positioned in the lower end of the intake legi and are disposed on either side of the opposed compressed areas 5.'Iihe internal side walls that connect the restricted oriflees 4 withthe interior of the intake leg extend from the restricted oriflces intothe interior of 40 the intake leg in directions that are substantiallylongitudinal of the inner surface of the intake leg, thereby providingstreamlined drain surfaces that extend inwardly from the restrictedoriflces into the interior of the intake leg and that provide for thefree and unimpeded draining of the fluid in which the siphon is usedfrom such internal surfaces and the complete absence of fluid retainingpockets and permit the straight flow of cleaning fluid thru the lowerend of the intake leg.

An intake oriflce is spaced upwardly from the restricted oriflces in theintake leg and has an upper lip 6 that is level with the position atwhich it is desired that the siphoning action cease.

Both the upper lip 6 and the lower lip '1 of the intake orifice arepreferably positioned above the interface 8 between the cream 9 and themilk II] that are contained in the quart bottle I II and in the pintbottle I2, in order that undiluted cream will flow into the intake legthru the intake oriflce and access will not be had. to the milk Ill.

In operation the intake leg of the siphon is plunged into the fluid fromwhich the upper layer is to be siphoned and the siphon is brought torest in any suitable manner with the upper lip 6 of the intake orificeat the level where it is desired that the siphoning action be broken. Asused with the quart bottle the preferred form of siphon is brought torest by the under side of the gooseneck that rests on the top rim of thebottle. As used with the pint bottle the same siphon is brought to restwith the lower end of the intake leg at rest against the inner surfaceof the bottom of the bottle and the upper end of the intake leg at restagainst the radially inner side of the top rim of the bottle. When usedwith other forms of container the siphon may be supported in anysuitable manner.

The siphoning action begins substantially immediately after the siphoncomes to rest, The cream enters the intake leg between the lips 6 and Iof the intake orifice, passes up the intake leg, thru the gooseneck anddown the discharge leg of the siphon from which it flows thru thedischarge orifice I3. The siphoning action continues until air insteadof liquid enters the in-- terior of the intake leg around the upper lip6 of the intake orifice.

On the completion of the siphon action the siphon is withdrawn from thefluid remaining in the vessel and allowed to drain. All of the surfacesof the siphon are positioned to permit the free draining of the fluid inwhich the siphon has been used from the interior thereof.

The cleaning of the siphon is accomplished simply, quickly and easily inany suitable manner such as by directing a stream of water or othercleaning fluid, preferably under pressure as from the conventionalkitchen tap, into the discharge orifice I3 in the discharge leg of thesiphon. The water has a substantially clean sweep thru the siphon andpasses out of the siphon thru the intake orifice and the restrictedorifices under ample pressure and straight direction flow to thoroughlyclean out the interior of the siphon.

The absence of fluid retaining pockets, and the stream lining of theinternal surfaces leading from the restricted orifices into the interiorof the intake leg of the siphon provide surfaces that are continuouswith the inner walls of the intake leg of the siphon, that drain cleanand. completely and that provide a straight drainage flow for both thefluid in which the siphon is used and for the cleaning solvent that isused for the re moval of such fluid.

The siphon has been found to operate successfully with cream and milkcombinations repeatedly without tainting the new supplies of the fluidsin which it was successively used.

The theory of operation of the siphon, as applied to the separation ofsurface cream from milk, is that onplunging the intake leg of the siphoninto the fluid, limited quantities of cream then milk enter thru therestricted orifices 4 into the interior of the intake leg of the siphonand progressively displace upwardly the air column in the interior ofthe intake leg. On the entrance of the intake orifice into the surfacefluid, cream enters the intake orifice and seals over the interior ofthe intake leg above the upwardly moving column of air which exerts abuoyant effect on the cream so positioned and carries a broken column ofcream over the gooseneck at a sufiicient velocity to start the siphoningaction.

During the cream flow substantially all fluid flowing from the dischargeorifice I3 in the discharge leg comes from above the level of the lowerlip I of the intake orifice in the intake leg since less energy isrequired to draw fluid into 10 the intake leg from above the level ofthe lower lip I of the intake leg than is required to lift fluid intothe intake leg from the level of the restricted orifices 4 at the lowerend of the intake leg.

The modified form of restricted orifice I4 that 15 is shown in Fig. 5 ofthe accompanying drawing is substantially frustro-conical in shape,contains no fluid retaining pockets and permits a clean drain from thisend of the siphon intake leg and a substantially straight flow ofcleaning fluid 20 therethru.

The modified form of intake orifice shown in Fig. 6 of the accompanyingdrawing comprises an inwardly pressed lower lip I5 that decreases theresistance to flow of cream into the intake leg 25 over the lower lip I5of the intake orifice by presenting a streamlined or inclined surfaceover which the cream flows with less resistance than is presented by theabrupt angular line of flow necessary around the upper lip 6 and thelower lip 30 l of the intake orifice in the preferred form of siphon.The inwardly pressed lower lip I5 also increases the resistance to flowof fluid upwardly of the interior of the intake leg below the intakeoriflce without interfering with the passage of air 35 therearound andthereby minimizes any tendency toward dilution of the cream that flowsfrom the discharge orifice I3.

The modified form of elongated intake orifice I8 that is shown in Fig. 7of the accompanying 40 drawing extends longitudinally of the intake legand is adapted for being progressively closed by the collar I I that ismounted externally of the intake leg of the siphon.

The collar I1 is formed of a suitable material 45 such as spring metaland is preferably separated longitudinally as by the slit I8 thatextends longitudinally of the collar to provide a close spring fltbetween the collar and the intake leg of the siphon. The spring metalimparts suifi- 50- cient resilience to the collar so that it makes atight binding contact with the intake leg of the siphon and yet issufficiently loose so that it may be moved longitudinally of the intakeleg for purposes of adjusting the level of the fluid withdrawn. Thelower edge IQ of the collar forms an adjustable upper lip for the intakeorifice I6 and the collar may be moved up or down to alter the level atwhich the siphon action will be broken.

This modification adapts the siphon for special uses such as adjustmentfor the cream level in conformity with the legal requirements in thedifferent States for different cream content in milk and. for other useswhere such adjustment is found to be desirable.

The preferred form of siphon embodies but a single piece with no partsthat may become separated or be lost in use. The siphon with the slidingsleeve is substantially inseparable in any 7 ordinary use and both typesof siphon operate automatically and efliciently and require no care norattention not given other devices used in similar materials.

The contour and the design of the siphon disclosed herein may be alteredto fit it for the use to which it is to be put. As so altered the siphonmay be used in a variety of ways such as to separate good oil from metalresidues in the reclamation of oils: as an emergency siphon to withdrawgasoline from a tank; to siphon oil exhausted water from fish aquariumsin the home; to siphon ofi clear good wine from the dregs in Winebarrels; or to separate other liquors such as whiskey, beer and thelike.

It is to be understood that the particular embodiments of the inventionshown and described are shown for purposes of illustration andexplanation and that various modifications in the construction and usesshown and described may be made without departing from the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An air trap inciting siphon, comprising a tubular intake leg having arestricted orifice end spaced from an intake orifice opening thru a sideof said intake leg, a siphoning action breaking level determining upperlip forming a part of the periphery of said intake orifice andpositioned at the level the siphoning action of said siphon is broken,an intake orifice lower lip forming a part of the periphery of saidintake orifice and projecting radially inwardly of said intake leg andassisting in the deflection of air trap air rising in said intake legsubstantially away from 5 contact with said upper lip of said intake legintake orifice, a restricted orifice opening facing away from thelowermost extremity of said intake leg, and tubular discharge meanshaving a discharge orifice opening facing away from the lowermostextremity of said discharge means and. positioned at a level below saidintake orifice in said intake leg.

2. A siphoning device comprising a tube of generally uniform diameterhaving a gooseneck provided with intake and discharge legs, said intakeleg having an intake orifice opening through the wall thereofintermediate its free end and said gooseneck, said intake leg at itsfree end having opposed portions of its wall abutting each other andforming a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending passagewayscommunicat-j ing with the bore of said intake leg and opening throughthe free end thereof.

' THEODORE J. SIMPSON.

